Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-23
@But Suzannef'

"But Suzannen
81 have come to take her."
"You are going to take her from usp
"Why are you surpriseal Is it not my
right cannot live without herr
"Listen, Roger" said the old man slowly.
"HeTe Suzanne will live in peace and COM
fort Here she will have an honOred mime,
which unfortunately you cannot give her
now Think twice before you drag her into
a life such as yours must be henceforth, in
exile and far from her mothers grave.
Roger, leave her with us. We love her well;
as well as you, and it seems to me that it is
your duty"
"Uncle, hear mel l am, as you say, dis
CTaced and hunted man, condemned inno-
Gently to exile from my country. l have
pothing but this child. She is everything 10
me- need her otherwise my heart win
break. Listen to me and hear the true story
of this crime for which am unjustly pun
ished. have never told it before, and would
not now, only that you may feel that l am
not entirely unworthy the consolation of my
child"
And then he told them all, reserving moth
ing except the name of Julia; and they heard
and believed him truly and said no more
their poor Old hearts bled.
"But the guilty one. Have you ever
thought it was that woman"
ayes, but cannot believe she did it, Had
she lover who gave her the money! Was
it for vengeancel l am lost in conjecture.
But l shall never give up my intention to
clear up this crime"
Long they talked OF the past, Of poor Henri
90 hsNIt d., NI,,
though unacceptable, and whom they
buried piously in the little churchyard at
Vile d'Avray, OF the machine works which
the good old Bernardo still managed for Su-
zanne's sake. Then he gave Roger what
money he had, which was some $4,000 francs,
which was the profits of the past year and
half, and a suit of bis own clothes When
all this was done it was nearly o'clock
Roger said:
II must go from here at on the train, and
it will be necessary to rouse Suzanne and get
her dressed"
With heavy hearts the old couple reused
and dressed the child and wrapped her in a
warm fur cloak and a hood and pulled thick
wooden stockings over her shoes that she
might not be cold. A small bundle of neces-
saries for Suzanne was made up, and then
lnc ndu COlile 10 ~. Inc Olu
aunt wept those hard wrung tears Of the
aged as she wrapped the little child she loved
so tenderly, and then they opened the door.
The weather had changed and the snow was
falling in great flakes, obscuring the road
and rendering it almost impossible to see
yard in advance.
"Roger," said the old man, al forgot to
say that Suzanne, after the fever she had,
has never seemed to remember that dreadful
experience. She thinks that you and her
mother are travelling, would not try to
awaken her memory She will be happier
so. ! think God had pity upon her youth and
tenderness and so yelled her memory"
"God grant it," said Laroque a wish /
also might forget"
Suzanne had not aroused enough to know
anything that was taking place, or that she
was being dressed for voyage. But at last
she opened her eyes
ais it morninglp said she drowsily.
"No, precious one," said the old lady. at
is in the middle OF the night, but we had to
take you up to tell some good news"
as it Christmasi'
"No, darling, but your dear papa, who has
been away so long, has come home"
A nervous tremor passed through the deli
cate frame Of the child, ard she took on sud
denly that same look she had worn during
those terrible dnys but she said nothing, and
the three anxious persons around her did not
notice. By and by she said slowly:
"Father has come! Where is he, thenln
Then Roger stepped forward and took her
in his arms and covered her with kisses, and
he did not notice that she did not kiss him.
Then he asked:
"Are you glad to see me, my childP
ayes, father"
awe will not be parted again. We are 90
Ing away together"
"Going awayl Going to leave Val Dieu aud
good uncle and auntl Father, why cannot
you stay herep
"For reasons which you cannot understand,
my darling
Il am very sorry to leave hero, father, but
we will gon
@she has entirely forgotten" said be, thank.
fully, to himself.
At last Suzanne mufiled up 10 the eyes, was
ready, and the old aunt, with tears streaming
down her withered cheeks, said:
"Go, my child, my darling. l am too old 10
hope to ever SEQ you again. Take, then, my
last kiss, and may God guard you and guide
your
Then the uncle kissed the pale little face,
And his heart swelled with grief, but he tried
TO bear up
any precious baby, said he, "your father
needs you, and you must 60 He will do all
he can to make you happy. Do the same for
him. II you ever come back to France, come
home here, where you are our own child. |
God bless you. Roger, write to us, and let US
know how she is, and send her photograph IL !
you can, and as often as you want money |
send for it"
"Good aunt aud uncle, will never forget
you, and l will love you forever" said the
child.
Then Roger took her in his arms and went
out into the tempest Of snow and icy wind,
and in twenty minutes more they were speed
ing away toward the frontier, while the two
desolate old people wept in their deserted
home.
CHAPTER X.
There was grave in the churcbyard at
Vile d'Avray, and on the headstone was the
name OF Henrictte Inroaup wifi the dnta Of |